A $1425 cheque for the North East Soldiers' Memorial Hospital Auxiliary is just one of many Dorset Community Men's Shed projects assisting local businesses.

Dorset Community Men's Shed coordinator Mervyn Chilcott said a number of works were well underway, including display units for Bridestowe Lavender Estate, and animal nesting boxes for the upcoming Scottsdale Show.

"We give the Dorset community a lot of assistance in that ladies bring chairs in that are broken and we replace them.

“Or we make a specific cupboard or a set of drawers where they can't buy it from the commercial shops, and they want a particular size."

He said $1425 for the hospital was raised by collecting old paling fences, splitting them into sticks and selling them in seven kilogram boxes to a number of outlets.

"Some people just come in and want a piece of wood cut to a shape, or they want a sign made for their front gate."

He said he was also helping with the development of signage for the Scottsdale Lion's Club.

"The Lion's Club are putting in an extension from the caravan park up to the Dorset Rail Trail, we routed the signs for that, ready to go up soon."

Mr Chilcott said the shed had at least eight to 10 volunteers on a daily basis, and about 30 members in total.

"Aside from the woodwork, we run art lessons up here, headed by John Gibb, quite a prominent artist in the North East.”

"We've got a gallery here at the shed, that we make things and sell through the gallery.”

Mr Gibb said he started an Art Hub in order to develop a network of artists in the North East.

“Because I was a former art teacher, I wanted to get a bit of a community art hub going,” he said.

Mr Gibb said projects included acrylic paintings and pottery – with a focus on old buildings and perspective.

He said he runs an art class class each Thursday at 10am at the Art Hub on 2 Christopher Street in Scottsdale.

For more information on the shed, or getting involved in art classes, contact Mervyn from the Dorset Community Men's Shed on 0417 542 152 or visit their Facebook page.